What helps you the most to be a safe driver?

Question

I am creating a worldwide project to reduce stress in driving.
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I am creating contests to inspire people to be more Helpful to
other drivers--and thus create less stress.
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My BIG GOAL is to REDUCE STRESS WORLDWIDE by
inspiring people to be more Helpful to:
(1) Other people,
(2) Themselves,
(3) Their environment.
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Driving in one very important area.
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I would like to see examples of what people are doing right now
to be safer drivers.
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You can help drivers all over the world with your answers.
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Please include permission to publish your answers.
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Thanks for your help!
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David

Answer 1

Consider everyone else behind the wheel is a total idiot. So, drive defensively with that thought in mind.

Answer 2

Hello,

If you want to be a safer driver, you must first accept that you, alone, simply can't control traffic situations (you can't evade a dangerous situation if the others involved don't evade that, too). This means that being depressed from traffic doesn't change anything, this (-> feeling depressed) doesn't help you. If you accept that, you will be a little bit relaxed, which helps you to concentrate more on driving.
In my opinion, prevention alone doesn't work here. Of course you have to do everything from you side, but you also should be prepared to react correctly on emergency situations.
I have some basic experinence, which helped me out a couple of times so far:
- know your wheels in details, how it behaves, how it works. If you think there's a situation where you are unsure about what would happen if you got into it, find an abadoned place where you can safely try it (emergency braking, evasive manoeuvres, winter handling, aqua planing etc.). Never try something new in the traffic first.
- know the others' wheels, too ! Have a basic knowledge of the other cars, to be able to predict them better (eg. differences between RWD, FWD, AWD handling).
- have some basic knowledge of the weather conditions and the consequences of the phenomena of nature. (like eg. road surface is most slippery at the beginning of the rain, or knowing that flat open areas and bridges are subject to strong cross-wind effects etc.)
- know the behaviour of the pedestrians (eg. when raining, be on full alert for pedestrians crossing the road, they are not covered so they will be likely in a hurry and possibly careless, and so on).
- be polite, patient and have a very positive approach to driving (choosing distances, speed, lane changes, co-operate with other drivers).
- learn to 'predict what will happen'. This skill comes from reading between the lines, that is, gaining extra information from spotting small things, signals of early warning to a possibly dangerous situation (eg. approaching a playground, where kids are expected to cross the road, or knowing that balls crossing a road is mostly followed by kids!). This skill evolves as you drive more and more, with your 'sight' expanding to be able to monitor the entire surroundings of your car and the whole traffic situation near you. Most traffic accidents has a 'pre-condition', which can be recognized (so called 'dynomen' situation, eg. the car in front of you suddenly gets a flat tyre or loses a part).

And finally, consider all your mistakes as a way to be better, especially if there were no consequences. If that was a close call, consider it as a valuable experince, but for free, and not as a failure, as you will probably solve such a situation next time you get into it, based on what you have learnt from it.

Good luck to be a safer driver !

David, you are free to do anything with my answer ! :D

Regards

Answer 3

I drive an old, stupid car. It doesn't do the thinking for me so I actually have to think about what I am doing while I drive. I have no ABS, traction control, cruise, air bag, or warning systems. I have to pay attention to what I'm doing while I drive. I can't read the paper, talk on the cell phone, surf the Internet, or any of the other things I see people doing while they "drive". Feel free to use this post any way you want.

Answer 4

I pay attention to everything going on on the road around me. I avoid distractions. I won't even answer a cell phone while I'm driving. I don't play music so loud I can't hear an approaching siren. I don't speed. I don't tailgate.

Feel free to use anything you may find useful in this brief answer.

Answer 5

Ever since I decided to slow down and allow extra time to reach my destination, I have had no accidents or tickets for 25 years.

I believe being in a hurry all the time is the cause of most accidents.

Answer 6

I was put through the windshield in my early twenties. Went to the ER and had injuries (fortunately not very severe). Just the thought of doing that again is enough to make me a safe driver.

Answer 7

i hate accidents, so when a car looks like a maniac is driving, i like to get out of his way. i look out for people and not only myself and if i see a car is swerving to much, i switch lanes or slow down

Answer 8

please feel free to use this answer , i drive defensively , do not tailgate , do not let my emotions change my driving style , i constantly scan my surroundings for any approaching hazards and i do not allow distractions .